By Varghese Alengaden
Indore: Very rarely have I heard of bishops expressing regret. Often bishops and priests who are in powerful positions behave as if they share the infallibility of Pope. So, I was surprised to know that a bishop has expressed his regret for attending a marriage between a Catholic woman and a Muslim man inside a church.
With all good intention Emeritus Bishop Mathew Vaniakizhakkel of Satna accepted the invitation by the bride’s family he was closely associated. Later the 74 –year-old prelate expressed regret because of the negative publicity about the mixed marriage propagated by a section of people with vested interests.
After learning the background of this mixed marriage I am of the view that the bishop’s regret is regrettable. By succumbing to the negative propaganda of the militant elements he lost an opportunity to educate people about the importance of creating good will and harmony among people of other faiths.
Mixed marriages are permitted by the Church. Father Benny John Maramparambil, the parish priest of Kadvanthra parish, had received the official non-objection certificate and the required permission from the parish priest of the bride’s parish to administer the marriage in the church. The official letter from the parish priest declaring that there were no impediments assured Bishop Mathew to attend the mixed marriage.
A parish priest usually obtains dispensation under disparity of cult before issuing the non-objection letter to the parish priest of the church where the wedding is to take place. When all such formalities were fulfilled why should a senior bishop express regret for blessing the young couple? The regret expressed by bishop was unnecessary.
Moreover, the young couple are educated. Both of them are medical doctors who studied together and are working together in the same hospital. They have decided to marry after knowing each other for many years. The husband has consented fully to the wife for practicing her Catholic faith and bringing up the children in Catholic faith. It is edifying to know that the husband accompanies his wife regularly to church for Mass and other rituals. The parents and members of both the families are happy about the marriage.
I have met Bishop Mathew when he headed Satna diocese and was impressed by his simplicity and holiness. The self-appointed defenders of the Church have committed a grave sin by their negative propaganda which made the bishop to express a public regret for doing a noble pastoral work. The abuses being heaped upon Father Benny, the parish priest, in social media by those defenders of the Church through fake profile are not only an act of cowardice but psychological lynching.
The parish priest of Kadvanthra parish, who has done his pastoral duty after all verification of documents, doesn’t deserve such abuses and insults. These co-called defenders of the Church do not dare to come face to face for a debate or dialogue. The four-page explanation on the issue and further developments by Father Benny provides crystal clear answers to all false allegations.
It is important to note that Father Benny had been in the forefront of the team which was examining the facts about the alleged land scandal in which Cardinal George Alencherry was accused as a party. Father Benny had major role in bringing out the facts regarding the land scandal which ultimately led to the transfer of Cardinal Alencherry from the Archbishops house of Ernakulam and installation of Archbishop Antony Kariyil.
Much before BJP governments in some states started talking against ‘Love Jihad’ the Syro-Malabar Synod of Bishops spoke against ‘Love Jihad’ and offended the Muslim community. Soon after the Synod statement was released the Minister of State for Home in the Parliament had clarified that there was case of ‘Love Jihad’ in the country.
Why did bishops make this imaginary issue to offend the Muslim community? Were they eager to please BJP-RSS leaders so that the BJP government at the Centre may not unleash the investigating agencies against the church institutions and its personnel involved in various financial and sex scandals?
As I have written on several occasions, bishops, priests, religious and laity should ask this question before they make any decisions: What would Jesus do if He were here today? Jesus launched a spiritual movement, THE WAY and liberated people from the burden of innumerable laws, rituals and dogmas. He gave us only one law, the law of love. He violated all laws, rituals and traditions which prevented people from growing in spirituality.
We cannot replace the Gospel of Christ with canon law, dogma and rituals. The Church, its leaders, clergy and religious are expected to be the salt to add taste and quality to society, prevent corruption and bring healing. But the Church has lost the saltiness and it gets trampled underfoot by people in the world. Instead of following Christ, the Good Shepherd, the leaders in the Church are following the corrupt political leaders, neglecting and giving scandal to the laity, the sheep.
Bishops and priests are expected to show courage and conviction to stand out against all injustice and negative forces, but often they remain silent for fear of being targeted and exposed.
On November 8, this year, an article was published in ‘Matters India’ under the title, “Bishops, speak up before you die.” At the age of 85, former Archbishop of Milan Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini made a revolutionary and realistic statement that the Catholic Church was “200 years out of date.” It is time for the bishops, priests, religious and the laity to follow the prophetic call and speak up against all imperial and political forces that destroy the mission of Christ.
I have attended one mixed marriage abroad. The bride was a Buddhist and wanted to remain so even after the wedding. The groom was Catholic. The wedding was solemnized in a Catholic church with usual wedding Mass service. Holy Communion was given only to the groom. That was the only difference that I noticed. I have not had any opportunity to attend mixed marriage service in India. I should imagine it goes on in many churches with no insistence on the non-Christian partner to convert. In the instant case, the problem was that the groom happened to be a Muslim, much in news these days for such marriages. There has been cases where the brides ending up in Afghanistan or Syria either abandoned there or turned widow due to death of the partner in terrorist activities. If some people have become hardliners it is for a reason. It has to be understood and respected by all. That said, I don’t think that there was any need to apologize, provided church procedures were followed. I also don’t believe that there is any love jihad in the instant case. It appears to be pure and simple love between two known persons.
The entire episode is required to be inquired into by a competent authority in the church since there are lots in the marriage which was not supposed to happen. The writer has not looked in to the veracity of the stands taken by both parish priests involved in the marriage blessing. We are not to justify the alleged wrongs.
Through this article the author without verifying or understanding the rules of the church is blaming the Bishop and praising the faulty. Has matters india verified the facts and happenings. It is very clear that the author is trying to bring out his dislike for the Major Archbishop of the Syromalabar Church. The simple fact that the highlighted photo was published in Newspapers itself is against the permission, if at all granted, in cult marriages. Matters India should verify facts before publishing articles with such onesided views and 100% biased
Wilson
“I am OK – you are not OK” mindset is prevailing among a “vast majority” of the Catholic Clergy (Pope, Cardinals, Arch/bishops, Priests and Religious Brothers and Sisters).
As long as this mindset continues, the Church will be always in “reverse gear” going back to “uncivilized era”. Neither Jesus nor His teachings will be of any use. I mean what we see today is only “Churchianity – i.e. Church minus Christ”.
The writer has convincingly brought out the article on the thought of the writer and the old thinking of the church.
I know the wirter is a modern day thinker and promotes inter religious interaction amongst school children along with school staff. He imbibes values of honesty, uprightness, love for fellow citizens and nature in school children. He also promotes Indian culture in common prays.
CCBI/CBCI must take note of the resources of this writer, who also happens to be a priest.
Great. I fully agree with the contents of Mr Varghese Alengadan’s this write-p about the subject under discussion. The Bishop ruined a golden chance for publicly stati g a very important matter. The silence of people like the Bishop hurt more than what is being done by the enemies of the csuse, here the so called defenders of the Church. Christ had ssid that the Phsrisees a d others make great burdens for the ordinary people. This is whst happened here also devising new harsh rules. Father Benny nust show courage to publish whatever documents he us in possession to co vince the public that he did not do any wrong.
If very few bishops express “regret” there are even fewer priests like Allengarden who express dismay with their fellow clergymen. When we laity say the same things we are quickly branded as rebels and critics of the church.
I have already stated earlier that the bishop’s regrets were shameful and uncalled for.
If the rules of the Church for such mixed marriage are fully followed, no one can object for the blessing of the couple in the church. The correct position , that is ,whether all rules were followed ,must be stated by the Diocesan Bishop to counter the false propaganda if any.
A very bold and insightful article by Fr. Varghese. As usual, he is not afraid to call spade a spade. In this present day vicious atmosphere, as Pope Francis would advise, we need to build ties of social friendship with members of other communities. That’s the only way way of counteracting the hindutva political agenda. Let us stop living within our own coccons of community and consciously embrace a world out there. This is what Jesus would today who was criticised for dining with the “outsiders”.
The Church is a Mother who accepts everyone. We need to follow the mind of the Church and accept all people irrespective of Caste and Creed.
Fully endorse Fr.Alenghaden’s view… We still has a long way to go be prophetic and yet that is what Jesus wanted from his disciples…
If the rules of the Church were followed for the blessing of the marriage of the Muslim man and Catholic woman, no one can object. Doubts were raised that all rules were not followed. Only the explanation of the Bishop of the diocese where marriage was conducted can satisfy the doubting people.